Lamp and fixture parts



Oct. 9, 1934. L. c. DOANE LAMP AND FIXTURE PARTS Filed sept. 2:5, 1930' A INVENTOR [eff] C Doa/2e. BY

ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES LAMP AND nx'rUnE PARTS Leroy C. Doane, Meriden, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation ot Connecticut Application September 23, 1930, Serial No. 483,815

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to lamp and xture parts and is more particularly directed toward such parts as are intended for use as rigid intermediate parts in lampsand lighting fixtures lor other electrical apparatus employing interchangeable parts. y

The present invention contemplates a combined electrical and mechanical connector having male and female threads at the opposite ends'k 1Q and embodying the structural and electrical parts of a connector, whereby the connector may be secured to a cooperative support or other similar connector to act as an extension and, at the same time, to provide terminals and threads whereby other similar connectors may be coupled to it.

The invention is more particularly directed toward the provision of interchangeable intermediate parts for use in lamps and the like,

go whereby the character of the rigid part of the lamp or ilxture may be changed by substituting other connectors having the same essential ele- 'ments but differing in length, size and appearance.

This application is a continuation in part of copending application, Serial No. 417,692, tiled December 31, 1929.

The accompanying drawing shows two oi' the many possible forms oi' construction, it being understood that the forms shown are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an outline view illustrating the component parts of a oor lamp; f

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a lamp column employing one form of construction;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through a rod or tube for' lamps employing substantially the same arrangement;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the tubular receptacle for the inner'conductor used in columns oi Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modied form or construction; Y

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the inner conductor and terminals in the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6; and

Figure 8 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 8 oi.' Figure 5.

The support or base for a iloor lamp is indicated at 10, a column at 11, a rod at l2, a break at 13,

and a socket carrier at l5. These parts may be made up in various sizes and lengths and may be variously ornamented and designed to produce many forms of table and iloor lamps, lighting xtures, stands or supports for electrical apparatus, and other forms of electrical apparatus.

- The base has an upwardly extending, externally threadedtubular conductor insulatively supported therein and indicated generally at 16.. This conductor encloses a concentrically disposed tubular. conductor insulatively carried therein. All is shownmore in detail in the application above referred'to. k

The standard 11 is indicated in detail in Figure 2. It consists of an outer ornamental casting or the like having a central longitudinal hole indicated at 50. It has shoulders as indicated at 51 and 52. This tubular member is adapted to carrythe two conductors for a circuit. One of these conductors is as indicated at 53 in the form of a 75 length of pipe threaded at both ends. The lower end 54 is threaded into a bushing or coupling 55, while the upper end 56 receives a threaded ring 57. An insulating ring 58 is placed between the flange 59 of the coupling 55 and the shoulder 51 on the tubular member 11. A similar insulating ring 60 is placed between a flange 6l on the ring 57 and the shoulder 52 on the tubular member 1l. The parts so i'ar described are assembled as indicated, a considerable portion of the threaded end 56 projecting upwardly and a considerable portion of the lower part of the coupling member 55 being-open. VThese parts are machined accurately and secured together as tightly as possible to makethem-more rigid and to reduce the possibilities of accidental loosening.

The inner conducting member is indicated at 62. It is in the form of a suitable length of heavy gauge insulated copper wire. 'Ihe lower end of the wire isbared as' indicated at 63 and projects through an insulating washer 64 so as to be axially disposed inside the coupling member 55. The upper end of the wire is bared as indicated at 65 and carries acontact clip 66, shown in Figure 4 and consisting oi a rolled strip of brass or bronze enlarged at its lower end 66a to receive the upper end of the wire 65. The upper end of the clip is reduced slightly,` as indicated at 66h, and is outwardly ilared, as indicated'at 66e. The clip is slipped over the wire 63 and may be soldered to it, if desired. The upper end of the tubular member 53 carries an insulating liner 67. This clip is adapted to form a receptacle for the end 63 of the wire of another unit.

The rod 12 shown in Figure 3 diiers from the column 11 principally in that the outer shell of the rod is in the form of a sheet metal tube 70. Metal seating rings 71 and 72 are provided at the ends o! the shell 70. These seating rings have shoulders 51' and 52' corresponding to shoulders 51 and 52 of the column. 'Ihe other parts of the rod are the same as those of the column and the same reference characters are employed. Instead of a nbre sleeve, nbre disks 73 are used.

'l'he break 13 may be made up substantially the same as the column, except that it is much shorter. The outer part of the break may consist oi' a casting or turned member and, as this member is short, the insulating sleeve may be omitted.

The upper endoi' any of these columns, breaks or standards is adapted to receive the lower end of any other of these units so that the mere threading of the parts together acts to secure them mechanically and extend the electrical connections. The lowermost part has a set of concentric connections to nt the cooperative parts of the base while the upper part is adapted to receive a socket carrier or other current consuming device provided with suitable concentric contacts adapted to fit the threaded pipe and the insulated tubular receptacle on the upper end of the center wire.

Figures 5-8 show a modiiled form oi' construction, a break having been selected, the same construction. however, being usable in long and short tubes, columns and other rigid parts. Here the outer tubular member is in the form of a turning 80. It encloses a pipe 8l, threaded at its upper and lower ends 82 and 83. carries an octagonal bushing 84, shown in Figure 8. It is threaded to the desired position and then preferably brazed in place and is received within an insulating bushing 85, (see Figure 8). A seating member 88 surrounding the bushing 85 is received within arecess 87 in the body 80 and is held against rotation by a prong 88 entering a slot 89. Ihese parts are inserted into the tubular body 80 from above together with a paper lining 90.

A sheet metal seating 91, similar to the seating 86 but without the prong 88, and a bushing 92, identical with the bushing 85, are then passed upwardly onto a recess in the lower end of the break or other part. An internally threaded bushing 93 is then threaded onto the pipe 81. Holes 94 in the bushing permit swedging the pipe outwardly to lock the parts, as indicated at 95.

A length of heavy, slow-burning, solid copper wire 96 is axially disposed along the inside of the pipe 41. Its ends 96' and 96" are secured, preferably by swedging, to receptacle contact 97 and male contact 98, in the form of a split pin. The contact 97, like the contact 66, is received within an insulating bushing 100. 'I'he male contact 98 is held in place by an insulating bushing 99, forced into the pipe.

The internally threaded bushings 93 form female contacts adapted to receive the upwardly extending threaded bushings carried by the base or at the upper end of any of the intermediate parts and. hence, any column, break or tube may be threaded onto any base or onto any other column, break or tube, thus mechanically connecting the parts together and continuing the circuit connections to the concentric male and female contacts 82 and 97.

It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in many forms and constructions within the scope of the claims and I wish it to be understood that the particular forms shown are but two of the many forms. Various modincations and changes being possible, I do not limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

I claim:

1. A combined electrical and mechanical connector for lighting appliances and the like, comprising, an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member of conducting material, a conducting bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member, an abutment threaded onto the other end of the inner tubular member, insulating rings carried by the bushing and abutment bearing against the ends oi' the outer tubular member to clamp it between the insulating rings and out of contact with the inner tubular member, the bushing on one connector acting as a socket to receive the threaded end of the tubular member of another connector.

2. A combined electrical and mechanical connector for lighting appliances and the like, comprising an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member of conducting material, a conducting bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member, an abutment threaded onto the other end of the inner tubular member, insulating rings carried by the threaded parts and bearing against the ends of the outer tubular member to secure it between the insulating rings and out of contact with the inner tubular member, the bushing on one connector constituting a socket to receive the threaded end of the tubular member of another connector. an insulating liner disposed inside the inner tubular member at one end thereof. a receptacle within the insulating liner, a rigid insulated wire carried inside the inner tubular member and connected at one end with the receptacle inside the liner, and an axially disposed pin within the bushing and connected at the other end to the rigid insulating wire.

3. A combined electrical and mechanical connector for lighting appliances and the like, comprising, an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member of conducting material. a conducting bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member, an abutment threaded onto the other end of the inner tubular member, insulating rings carried by the threaded parts and bearing against the ends of the outer tubular member to secure it between the insulating rings and out of contact with the inner tubular member, an insulating liner disposed inside the inner tubular member at one end thereof, an insulating apertured member disposed within the bushing, and a rigid insulated wire carried inside the inner tubular member and having a bared end extending through the apertured member while the other bared end extends into the liner, a sleeve carried by the said other bared end of the rigid insulated wire, the bushing and bared wire at one end of the connection being cooperable with the exposed threaded end of the inner tubular member and the sleeve to provide continuous electrical connections for both sides of a circuit when connectors are secured together end to end.

4. In a combined electrical and mechanical connector, a rigid tubular conducting member, an insulatedly supported casing, one end of the conducting member being threaded and extending beyond the casing, the other end carrying an internally threaded coupling housed within the casing, a second conductor insulatedly carried within the tubular conducting member and having one end disposed axially of the connector and the other end in the form of a receptacle housed inside the threaded end of the tubular member, the

coupling being adapted to receive the threaded end of the conducting member of a similar connector and the receptacle on the second conductor thereof receiving the end of the second conductor of the first connector.

5. In a combined electrical and mechanical connector, a rigidv tubular conducting member, an insulatedly supported casing, one end of the conducting member being threaded and extending beyond the casing, the other end carrying an internally threaded coupling housed within the casing, a second conductor insulatedly carried within the tubular conducting member and having one end disposed axially of the connector and the other end in the form of a receptacle housed inside an insulating liner mounted inside the threaded end of the tubular member, the cou-'- pling being adapted to receive the threaded end of the conducting member of a similar connector and the receptacle on the second conductor thereof receiving the end of the second conductor of the first connector.

6. In a combined electrical and mechanical connector, a rigid tubular conducting member, an insulatedly supported casing, one end of the conducting member being threaded and extending beyond the casing, the other end carrying an internally threaded coupling housed within the casing, a second conductor in the form of a length of insulated wire carried within the tubular conducting member and having one bared end disposed axially of the connector, a receptacle housed inside the threaded end of the tubular member and supported by the other bared end of the second conductor, the coupling being adapted to receive the threaded end of the conducting member of a similar connector and the receptacle on the second conductor thereof receiving the bared end of the second conductor of the rst connector.

'7. A combined electrical and mechanical connector comprising an outer rigid tubular member, insulating bushings received within the ends of the tubular member, an inner tubular conducting member externally threaded at its ends, an internally threaded metallic bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the adjacent insulating bushing, and an external abutment carried near the other end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the other insulating bushing, a threaded end of the inner tubular member extending beyond the abutment and the outer tubular member, the internally threaded bushing constituting a socket to receive the exposed threaded complementary end of a similar connector to secure the two connectors together and continue the electrical connections through the same.

8. A combined electrical and mechanical connector comprising an outer rigid tubular member, outwardly flanged insulating bushings received within the ends of the tubular member, an inner tubular conducting member externally threaded at its ends, an internally threaded metallic bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member and outwardly anged to bear on the adjacent insulating bushing, and an external abutment carried near the other end of the inner tubular member and outwardly flanged to bear on the other insulating bushing, the threaded end of the inner tubular member extending beyond the abutment and the outer tubular member, the internally threaded bushing constituting a socket to receive the exposed threaded complementary end of a similar connector to secure the two connectors together and continue the electrical connections through the same.

9. A combined electrical and mechanical connector comprising an outer rigid tubular member, outwardly flanged insulating bushings received within the ends of the tubular member, one of the bushings being non-rotatable therein, an inner tubular conducting member externally threaded at its ends, an internally threaded metallic bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member and outwardly flanged to bear on the adjacent insulating bushing, which is rotatable in the outer tubular member, and an external abutment carried near the other end of the inner tubular member having a non-circular flange received within a non-circular recess in the non-rotatable insulating bushing, the threaded end of the inner tubular member extending beyond the abutment and the outer tubular member, the internally threaded bushing constituting a socket to receive the exposed threaded complementary end of a similar connector to secure the two connectors together and continue the electrical connections through the same.

10. A combined electrical and mechanical connector compris'ng an outer rigid tubular member, insulating bushings received within the ends of the tubular member, an inner tubular conducting member externally threaded at its ends, an internally threaded metallic bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member bearing on the adjacent insulating bushing, an external abutment carried near the other end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the other insulating bushing, and means to prevent turning of the inner tubular member within the outer tubular member, the threaded end of the inner tubular member extending beyond the abutment and the outer tubular member, the internally threaded bushing being locked to the inner tubular member to prevent loosening and constituting a socket to receive the exposed threaded end of a similar connector to secure the two connectors together and continue the electrical connections through the same.

11. A combined electrical and mechanical connector comprising an outer rigid tubular member, insulating bushings received within the ends of the tubular member, an inner tubular conducting member externally threaded at its ends, an internally threaded metallic bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member bearing on the adjacent insulating bushing, an external abutment carried near the other end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the other insulating bushing, and means to prevent turning of the inner tubular member within the outer tubular member, the threaded end of the inner tubular member extending beyond the abutment and the outer tubular member, the internally threaded bushing having holes to receive outwardly swaged parts of the inner tubular member to prevent loosening of the bushing and constituting a socket to receive the exposed threaded end oi" a similar connector to secure the two connectors together and continue the electrical connections through the same.

12. A combined electrical and mechanical connector comprising an outer rigid tubular member, insulating bushings received within the ends of the tubular member, an inner tubular conducting member externally threaded at its ends, an internally threaded metallic bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the adjacent insulating bushing, an extemal abutment carried near the other end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the other insulating bushing, and an axially extending conductor within the inner tubular member insulated therefrom and having a pin within the bushing and a receptacle within the other end of the inner tubular member. the threaded end of the inner tubular member extending beyond the abutment and the outer tubular member, the internally threaded bushing constituting a socket to receive the exposed threaded end of a similar connector to secure the two connectors together and continue the electrical connections through the same, the pin on one connector entering the receptacle on the other connector.

13. A combined electrical and mechanical connector comprising an outer rigid tubular member, insulating bushings received within the ends of the tubular member, an inner tubular conducting member externally threaded at its ends, an internally threaded metallic bushing threaded onto one end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the adjacent insulating bushing, an external abutment carried near the other end of the inner tubular member and bearing on the other insulating bushing, the threaded end of the inner tubular member extending beyond the abutment 1,avs,sss

and the outer tubular member, an axially disposed conductor within the tubular conductor and bushing. and insulating linings carried within the tubular conductor and supporting the ends of the axial conductor, a receptacle carried by oneendottheaxialconductonapincarried by the other end ot the axial conductor, the receptacle o! one connector being adapted to receive the pin oi' another similar connector when the internally threaded bushing on one connector is threaded onto the exposed end of a similar connector to secure the two connectors together and continue the electrical connections through the same.

14. A combined electrical and mechanical connector comprising a rigid tubular shell, an inner tubular member in the form of a length of pipe having straight threads at its ends, means for non-rotatably and insulatedly supporting the pipe within the shell with one threaded end exposed, an internally threaded socket forming a bushing threaded onto the other end of the pipe and bearing against the insulating means. and locking means to prevent looning of the bushing after it has been tightened in place.

LEROY C. DOANE. 

